Trading Sexuality for Survival
The First Time Jaime Felt Beautiful as a Whole Person
Dear Fellow Art Lover,
Years before I created Model Society, I had a profound experience with a model that revealed how art modeling could transform people’s lives.
I was a successful artist in the tattoo industry, and my traveling art gallery toured tattoo conventions and art shows worldwide. My most popular images were fantasy illustrations based on models. I’d often take photos and use them as a reference to create devils, angels, and other mythic characters.
Jamie introduced herself at a tattoo convention in South Florida and said she’d love to model for me. She was stunning, radiant, enthusiastic, and outgoing. We scheduled a shoot later that week.
At the start of the photo shoot, Jaime posed in very sexual and alluring ways. Even though she was charismatic and confident, that was not what I needed for my art style. So I asked if we could take a break, and we started talking. We got to know each other a little.
When we started retaking photos, Jaime was relaxed. Instead of being sexy, she was expressive and honest. Her assertive confidence softened to reveal sadness and depth. Her poses were elegant, lyrical, and emotional. She was glorious in her courage and vulnerability.
As we were ending the photo shoot, Jaime started to cry. I lowered my camera and asked if something was wrong. She said, “No, just the opposite”. She told me this was the first time that she’d ever felt genuinely beautiful. Through tears, she explained how she had been sexually pursued, abused, and exploited since early puberty. She was used to being desired and had learned to rely on her sexuality for survival. We sat on the studio floor as she wept, and she asked me to take a few more pictures.
We’re all shaped by how we see the world and how the world sees us. That day, Jaime saw herself through my eyes as a work of art. Sometimes, when we attain a new perspective on life or ourselves, it can never be taken away.
It was rewarding for us both when I’d send her art that she had inspired. We remained friends until several years later when I got a call telling me Jaime had been killed by a hit-and-run. I was devastated that her light had been taken from the world. I felt blessed to have known her and offered some words for her funeral.
The lessons I learned from Jaime are an essential part of Model Society. We feature artwork that celebrates the model as a whole person. We elevate creatives whose vision honors our individual (and shared) humanity. At Model Society, we want everyone to see themselves and each other – just as Jaime did – on a pedestal as exquisite works of art.
Thank you for believing in human beauty!
Enjoy! ❤️
David Bollt
Founder, Model Society
P.S.- Transformation and healing are a regular part of the Model Society experience. I’ve spoken with dozens of models and photographers who have similar stories. It’s liberating for anyone to experience themselves as a work of art. Stay tuned for interviews and videos as we explore this further.
P.P.S. – Discover the World’s Best Nude and Figurative Fine Art! Subscribe for a free issue of Model Society Magazine, inspiring newsletters, exclusive previews, and hand-picked images celebrating the beauty and dignity of the human form. The Model Society community features thousands of top models, photographers, and fans with a shared vision– to restore human beauty to its rightful place as a work of art.
Thank you for the excellent perspective of capturing the beauty and reality of the human form. I'm sorry for the loss of your beautiful friend.
Our bodies are indeed works of art. A lot of careful planning and modeling went into the creation of men/women. We were once just a piece of clay in someone's very skilful hands.